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Reducing the pain associated with local anaesthetic infiltration for open carpal tunnel decompression
I C Vossinakis1, P Stavroulaki, I Paleochorlidis
1Orthopaedic Department, Achillopoulion Volos General Hospital, Polymeri Street, Volos, Greece. vossinakis@panafoent.gr
Abstract:
This prospective, randomized study assessed the effectiveness of buffering lidocaine with sodium bicarbonate for reducing the pain associated with local anaesthetic infiltration for open carpal tunnel decompression. Twenty-one patients undergoing bilateral open carpal tunnel decompression received, in a randomized manner, lidocaine 1% with adrenaline (1:200,000) in one hand and the same local anaesthetic buffered with 8.4% NaHCO3 at a 5:1 ratio in the other hand. Pain, especially its burning element, was evaluated on a visual analogue scale and was significantly reduced with the buffered solution. The buffering was effective for all patients and no adverse effects were noted. This is a safe, easy and quick method for making open carpal tunnel surgery less uncomfortable to patients.
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